Automatic loop-makes foe jsovihg-pigttrre films



E, YV?. WGQEN. UTGNIATIC LOOP MAKER FCR Wim/5MG PICTURE HLMS.

APPUCTIUH FLED FMR. 3. i915.

Parenad Aug. 29, w15.

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ZSHEETS-SHEET L.

M M M 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EI IVI. WGGEN.

AUTOMATIC L00? MAKER FOR IIIOVIIIG PICTURE FILMS.

APPLICATION miv s. i915.

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naar@ iii. WOODEN, or new YORK, n. Y., Assienon To THE rnarncroennrriiriauurncruniiie' COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N'. Y., A' CORPORATION on nELAWAnE-q AUTOMATIC LOOP-MAKER .FOB lfIOVlCNlG-VPICTEE FILMS.

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' Specification Of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1915. Serial No. 11,739.

To all whom z'tmay concern.

Be it known that I, EARLE M. WOODEN, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resi dent of kthe borough of Manhattan of the city of New. York, inthe State ofy New York, have invented certain new' and use ful Improvements in Automatic Loop- Makers for Moving-Picture Films, owhich the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

In the operation ofmoving picture machines, it is fwell recognized that the delay incidental to the placing of a fresh reel in the magazine and the threading of the lrn through the machine and the formation of the loops for compensation of the intermittent driving motion, isvery Objectionable to the audience' and efforts have been made to shorten the time required for these preliminary settings by the operator.

1t is the general object of this invention to shorten the time for placing the film in positionfor the commencement of the exhibition byproviding devices which will automatically vform the required loops in the film without any manipulation on the part of the operator.

In machines embodying the invention the operator need only'pass the film around the usual sprockets and guide rolls and then set the prime mover in motion, whereupon the required loops in the film will be formed vloo all of the drivin means for the respectivc sprockets and the mechanism for imparting the intermittent motion, being restored automatically to normal 'operating positions immediately' upon the formationy of loops of predetermined length.

Reference is now to be had to the accompanying drawings for a detailed descrip-r tion of the invention, in which-` Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation Oi the housing for 4the ilni and the y Patented Aug. Zgjl;

driving sprockets, the partsbeing shownv 'somewhat'conventionally. Fig.-2 is a view A in side elevation of the devices for driving' the various sprockets and showing the application thereto of an automatic loop maker. embodying the present invention, the View being taken along the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.v Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation vand partly in section ofl the devices illustrated'in Figs. 1 and 2 and showing particularly the relative arrangement of such devices. Fig. 4 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but showing the automatic loop maker in position to form the upper loop. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in plan of the upper feed sprocket and the loop maker, the parts being shown in normal Operating position. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 but showing the loop maker inposition to cause the formation of 'the'upper loop.l

As indicated particularly in Fig. 3, the housing a is provided with a partition af by which the upper sprocket b, the lower.'

' sprocket c and the intermittently actuatedV feeding sprocket @Z are relatively exposed to permit the iilm e to be threaded through the Pmachine by the operator, while all of the actuating devices are incased completely in the other portion of the housing and there-v by protected from injury, dust, etc. The usual cooperating guide rolls f may be mounted in operative relation to the sprockets and c or to the window plate a? across the aperture a3 'of which the film is passed to permit the projection of' the image. It is quite evident that a great deal of time in preparing the film for exhibition might be saved if it were not necessary 'for the operator, after passing the film through the' slot a4 of the housing a, to form, with some care, the upper loop e and the lower loop e2, tor compensation of the intermittent driving motionimparted by the sprocket d.

In the present invention it is proposed that the Operator shall .pass the lm quickly through the slot atand around the several sprockets t, c. andoland the guide rolls f without forming' the required loops but permitting the film to rest substantially taut, as indicated by dotted lines in Fi 1. The

devices now to be'described, upon'operatioii4 l" of the prime mover, will then permit rela#-V Isol tive movement lirst, between Vthe sprocket o and the intermittently actuated sprocket and second, between the sprocket c and said sprocket (Z, the travel ot' the film througl the machine in the usual manner being continued immediately upon the formation of the upper and lower loops e and lVhile the present improvements are not concerned with the driving mechanism .tor the film, it ivill be conducive. to a clearer understanding ot 'the applica tion ot the improved loop maker to these devices to point out gencrallytheir arrangement with respect to each oth r, illustrated in thel accompanying drawings. The upper sprocket ,7)

is carried on a shat't o which passes through and is journaled, as at o2, in the partition plate o of the housinga, the shaft beinfcT threaded on. its inner end and 'carrying a pinion 1o3, to which rotation is imparted through an idler g which, in turn, may be driven by a spur gear 7L carried on the inner end oi the rotatable driving shaft 7L deriving its movement trom a hand crank 71?' or any other available source ot power. The main driving gear 71,. also engages a. pinion 'el fixed on a. sliort shalt t" which may be journaled in an arm 7c, hereinafter to be described more particularly. @n the free end of' the stub shaft z" is keyed a large bevel gear 2'? on the face ot which is formed a bevel pinion 713. The large bevel gear 2 meshes normally ivith a bevel pinion Z carried on an idlel spur gear Z which meshes, in turn, with a second spur gear m, the rota. tion of which is transmitted to the intermittently actuated driving devices (not illustrated), but indicated being mounted in a housing a., through a llexible shaft m. From the intermittently actuated mechanism rct'erred to, the driving sprocket rl receives its movement. The bevel pinion 3 on the large bevel gear i?, meshes with a bevel pinion 0, the rotation el which is normally in'iparted through a slidable shalt 0 and pinion oZ on the lower end thereof, to a bevel gear p secured to the shaft p of the lower sprocket c. The mechanism thus far described may be 'of any approved character, in so 'tar as the known functions thereof are concerned, and the somewhat eonven tional showing ot this mechanism is made only to enable. the operation ol the loop maker to be understood.

The arm /f which not. only supports the a after such manipulation may be brought about by a spring r operatively interposed between the arm and some fixed abutment, such as the end' of the shaft 7L. One effect ot swinging' the arm about its bearing .a4 is to move the large bevel gear 'il out of engagement with the pinion Z, so that no movenient can be imparted through the gearing hereinbetore described,.to the intermittently actuated devices which are contained Within the. easing u. are thus moved to the position shown in Fig. l, rotation of the shaft it .auses ro tation ot the upper sprocket i), but the intermittently actuated sprocket d remains at rest so long' as the arm is maintained in this position. This relative rotation of the sprocket l) with respect to the sprocket d makes the upper loop c innnediately7 and so tar as this loop is concerned it is necessary only to restore the intermittently actuated sprocket (Z to normal running conditions when the loop e is of suliicient length, to

carry on the usual exhibition of the ilm. rthe devices for insuring the restoration of normal operating conditions for the intermittent-ly actuated sprocket Z immediately upon the making of a. loop e of suliicient length, are found in the present embodiment, in a spring-pressed latch lf3 mounted pivotally on 'the upper end of the arm L and adapted to eugzge the nose a of a catch o conveniently secured to thepartition plate a', whenever the arm 1 is swung to the position shown in Fig. l. On the tail 'ol the hitch lf3 is pivotallv secured a half -nut s, the exposed threads of which are forced into engagement with the threads on the end ot' thc shaft Zi when the arm 7: is rocked to interrupt the driving transmission ol' the intermittently actuated sprocket d. Rotation of the shaft o when the prime mover shaft It is rotated, serves to thread the halt nut e along the threads o1" the shaft so as to rock the latch 7u about its su )nortinr Divot iin .7:4 and linall move L 2D l latch Z as to release the latch and permit the restoration ot normal operating conditions lfor the intermittently actuated sprocket (Z immediately. upon lthe formation of an upper loop a ot' predetermined*length.

ln describing tho operation whereby the loiver loop is lormed, it is important to remember that the oscillating' arm Il: is tirst moved by manual manipulation ol the pull rod fl', before the film is threaded through the machine. As soon as the latch 7c3 engages the nose ai', the operator may release the pull rod r/ and the parts will remain in locked position with the intermittent l'ccd interrupted. Auxiliary mechanism, of the nies-,cee

` for the formation of the lower loop. This lso mechanism comprises generally a threaded cap 03 on which is formed the pinion o and in which is seated the `upper end of the transmission shaft o, the latter being threaded, as at 0*, to cooperate with the threads of the cap o3. By reason of this threaded engagement it will be evident that axial movement of the shaft o with respect to the cap 03 Vwill cause rotative movement of the shaft. The shaft o may conveniently be moved axially with respect tothe cap o3 through the medium of a, forked slide which partially embraces the s aft and bears against a washer 05 fixed thereon, the other end of the forked member being pivotally attached, as at t, to 'an elbow lever q',

mounted pivotally, as at fc5, on the oscillatingV arm c and connected to the pull rod g.-

It should now be evident that when the arm is oscillated to the position above referred to, the shaft owill be moved axially with respect to the cap o?. Axial movement of the shaft, o can only result where there is i relative .rotation between this shaftand the cap'osmce these two elements are in threaded engagement. The shaft -o cannot rotate Since it is held against rotation by the actuating devices but the cap 'o3 is free to rotate,

being merely held against axial movement.

Axial movement of a non-rotatable member with respect to .a member which is free to rotate and which is engaged with the first named member through threads of steep pitch necessarily resultsin the rotation of the second named member.V The film is then threaded through the machine and drawn taut over the upper and lower sprockets.l

Immediately upon the rengagement of the Y bevel gear 2 with the pinion Z, the cap 03 i' will be rotated. Rotation of, this cap will 45 then serve to move the shaft o axially within the cap until the upper end ofthe shaft seats therein. -While this shaft o is being moved axially in this manner, it will be u nderstood that no rotative movement is, transmitted -to the sprocket` c although the sprocket (i is meanwhile rotating and feeding the film forward.` The relative move- ,ment between the intermittent' feed and the lower sprocket c which is thus produced, results in the formation automatically 'of the lower. loop. As soon as the shaft o is threadedfully into the cap o, rotation of the sprocket c is' produced and the exhibition of the film in the usual manner is carried on.

It is to be understood that the automatic loop making mechanism has 'itsvarious clements so related to each other and to the sprockets as to harmonize in their'respective actions and insure the formation of loops of prer length and the resumption the threading' of' a lilm through almachine for the commencement of the exhibition, it will be appreciated that the time which is required for the formation of the loops is to be reduced to a minimum and the travel of the film through the machine isv to be initiated as nearly coincident with the formation of the loops as is possible.

Other means for permitting-relative moveme'nt of the sprockets of a machine for forming the loops automatically before the commencement of the exhibition and for feeding the film forward immediately upon the formation of the loops,` will suggest themselves to those skilled'inl the art, 'but it is to be understood that-` the substitution of mechanical equivalents. for the elements herein illustrated or mere rearrangenents of the parts shown are to be deemed within the spirit of this invention'provided theyfall within the scope of the. appended claims.

'I claim as my invention: A

1. ln a -moving picture machine, driving mechanism for the vfilm including upper and lower continuously operable sprockets and an intermittent feed,`means to disconnect the intermittent feed momentarily from-'the driving mechanism, whereby continued rotation of the upper sprocket forms a loop in the film between the upper sprocket and intermittent feed, and devices to hold the lower sprocket against rotative movement with respect to the intermittent feed lto make a loop in 'thefilm between itand the mechanism, and devices actuated` by said last named means for permitting differen-- tial rotation between the intermittent feed andthe lower sprocket to form a loop' between the lower sprocket and the intermittent feed, continued rotation ofthe upper sprocket yserving to form a loop between it and the intermittent feed.

il'. In a movingy picturev machine', vdiviving mechanism for the film including upperand lower continuously operable sprockets and an intermittentfeed, means todisconneet the intermittent feed `momentarily from the driving mechanism,"I whereby continued rotation of the upper sprocket forms a loop in the film between the upper sprocketand the intermittent feed, devices to hold the lower sprocket against rotation with respect to the intermittent feed to permit differential movement between it and the intermittent feed to form the lower loop between the lower sprocket and the -intermittent feed, and means to return automatically all ofthe parts to normal opcrating positions for the projection ot the lm upon the formation ot the loops.

4. In a. moving picturemachine, drivinga mechanism for the film including upper and lower continuouslyY operable sprockets and an vintermittent feed, transmission devices operatively connected between the driving mechanism and the intermittent feed, an oscillating arm on which certain ot said transmission devices are mounted, said arm being susceptible of oscillation bv the operator to interrupt the transmission of power .to the intermittent feed, rotation ot the upper sprocket forming a loop in the film between it and the intermittent feed. means to return the arm to operative posit-ion. and devices to rotate the intcrniiltcnt toed, momentarily upon reconnection, with respect to the lower sprocket to form a loop between it and the intermittent feed.

5. In a moving picture machine, drivingfr mechanism for the film including' upper and lower continuouslvv operable sprockets and an intermittent feed. transmission devices operatively connected between the driving;- mechanism and the intermittent feed, an oscillating arm on which certain ot said transmission devices are mounted, said arm being susceptible ot oscillation b v the operator to interrupt the transmission ot power to the inter ittent feed, rotation of the upper sprocket 'forming a loop in the film between itand the intermittent feed, a latch carried b v the arm to maintain it in the position referred to, means carried by the latch and adapted to cooperate with the upper sprocket to release the arm automaticalljv upon the formation of a loop of predetermined length, means to restore the arm to its normal position, and devices to permit relative rotation between the lower sprocket and the intermittent feed upon re- ':onneetion to form a loop between it'and the intermittent feed.

G. ln a moving; picture machine, driving mechanism for the film including' upper and lower continuousl;T operable sprockets and an intermittent feed, transmission de vices operatively interposed between the intermittent feed and the driving mechanism, ay movable arm on which certain of said' transmission devices are carried, a pull-rod carried by the arm to facilitate movementl thereotI by the operator to interrupt thel transmission oi power to the intermittenti feed, a latch carried b v the arm to main tain it in the last named position, transmission devices operatively disposed between the driving` mechanism and the lower sprocket including a threaded shatt slidablc axially, an interiorly threaded cap carried on the threaded portion oi the sha'tt, means under the control ot the operator to effect relative axial movement between the shaft and the cap to permit rotation ot the intermittent feed with respect to the lower sprocket to :form a loop in the film between it and the intern'iittent feed, means actuated by the upper' sprocket for releasing the latch. upon the YFormation of loops oi predetermined lengths, and a spring for restoring' the arm to normal position.

This specification signed and witnessed this 21st dav ot lecember, A. D 1914:.

, EARLE M. VOODEN.

Signed in the presence oflilLLa J. KRUGER, FRANCIS J. MURPHY. 

